JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Jefferson Elementary parents are grappling with what to do with their children who attend a school with concerns including asbestos, mold, heating and air issues and other problems.
The mom of a second grader, Jodi Newman, made the difficult decision to remove her daughter Monday and send her to K-12 school online.
"I highly believe in our public school system. I believe that the teachers that are taking care of my child have her best interests at heart," Newman said. "I just can't have her in that building in that environment."
Newman said the final straw was when she attended her child's open house Thursday and saw what she believed to be disturbed asbestos on a pipe insulation.
"We actually were able to pick up asbestos with our bare hands and put it in a bag," Newman said. "It concerns me to say that the school, at least the superintendent is saying that this issue has been resolved, reporting that to the state and yet I can walk in the building and see that it's not."
WBIR reached out to Tommy Arnold, director of Jefferson County Schools said the situation is already being investigated after we shared the video with him.
"After review of the video footage Jefferson County schools will have the pipe insulation tested for asbestos and take any necessary action as needed based on results," Arnold said.
Half an hour later, Arnold sent a message that the sample was pulled by a contractor and the results would be ready Wednesday evening.
Still, parents like Danielle Kaller are very worried. Kaller told WBIR she has started the transfer process to remove her kids and send them to New Market Elementary.